Plans to create a new Park Lane College Keighley campus moved one step closer today as concerns over a pedestrian crossing were ironed out.

Bradford Council's regulatory and appeals committee met to discuss the proposals, after Keighley Area Planning Panel recommended them for approval earlier this month.

The application for the £34 million project will now be passed on to the Secretary of State for final approval - with work expected to start in May and the site to be open to students in September 2010.

One of the main issues at today's committee meeting was the siting of a pedestrian crossing in Bradford Road.

Initially the plans were to move the existing crossing from its position left of the railway bridge near Keighley station. But councillors did not believe the suggested location would be workable and agreed that it would be better to move the crossing to the other side of the bridge. In addition they called for the forecourt to be fully pedestrianised, one of three options put forward.

Councillor Chris Greaves said of the original proposals for the crossing: "To expect students to walk 100 yards the wrong way to cross is complete nonsense. It would be unrealistic to expect them to shamble right up Dalton Lane and back again just to get a sandwich."

And committee chairman Councillor Clive Richardson said: "People will run across the road and jump barriers. I would also pedestrianise the entire forecourt area."

Andy Fitzgerald, the college's property manager, told councillors: "We are very pleased to be working with Bradford Council in partnership to develop this college which will be a state-of-the-art facility.

"It will provide high skills to help the regeneration and employment opportunities for the people of Keighley."

He also called it a "landmark" building. It will incorporate a glazed atrium and have its own car park, with 170 spaces, 65 of which will be reserved for people using the station.

It should create 380 full-time and 120 part-time jobs.